Tongue-thrust correction appliance

ABSTRACT

A tongue-thrust correction appliance positionable in a patient&#39;&#39;s mouth is provided having an upper-jaw engaging structure including two laterally spaced elements, and a shelf-like plate which is integrally molded with the laterally spaced elements for suspension across the interior of the mouth in spaced relationship to the roof of the mouth. Each of the laterally spaced elements are provided with surface conformations enhancing retentive engagement with the jaw and maintenance of the plate in suspended relationship for support of the endmost portion of the tongue on an upper surface of the plate and restricting movement of the tongue to a predetermined position against the roof of the mouth during swallowing.

[11] 3,871,370 14 1 Mar. 18,1975

1 1 TONGUE-THRUST CORRECTION APPLIANCE [76] Inventor: Lee E. McDonald,1800 Zollinger Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43221 [22] Filed: July 5, 1973 [21]Appl. No.: 376,558

[52] US. Cl. 128/136 [51] Int. Cl. ..A61c 11/00 [58] Field of Search128/136, 132 R, 133, 139; 32/14 8-14 F [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,750,941 6/1956 Cathcart 128/136 3,126,002 3/1964 Owens128/136 3,132,647 5/1964 Corniello 128/136 3,434,470 3/1969 Strickland128/136 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant -ExaminerHenry J.Recla Attorney, Agent, or FirmMaho'ney, Miller & Stebens [57] ABSTRACT Atongue-thrust correction appliance positionable in a patients mouth isprovided having an upper-jaw engaging structure including two laterallyspaced elements, and a shelf-like plate which is integrally molded withthe laterally spaced elements for suspension across the interior of themouth in spaced relationship to the roof of the mouth. Each of thelaterally spaced elements are provided with surface conformationsenhancing retentive engagement with the jaw and maintenance of the platein suspended relationship for support of the endmost portion of thetongue on an upper surface of the plate and restricting movement of thetongue to a predetermined position against the roof of the mouth duringswallowing.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures TONGUE-THRUST CORRECTION APPLIANCEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A serious dental problem is created by manypeople as a consequence of incorrect swallowing techniques. Incorrectswallowing techniques with respect to the problem sought to be correctedis that resulting from tongue thrust. Tongue thrust is a term used todescribe an incorrect swallowing pattern which causes anterior,unilateral and bilateral open bites where the teeth between the archesare forced apart by the tongue projecting between the upper and lowerteeth. This incorrect swallowing pattern may be generally characterizedas an involuntary forward projection of the tongue whereby the forwardtip or end portion of the tongue is caused to extend between or againstthe teeth with substantial force. The resultant undesirable effect isthat the tongue tends to either push the teeth apart, or keep them fromerupting to a normal extent, thereby producing this open bite condition.

While it would appear that tongue thrust" is only an intermittentcondition of very short duration and therefore not of any substantialconsequence, it will be recognized that swallowing is a relativelyinvoluntary action, although controllable, which occurs a great numberof times each day. It has been estimated that an individual swallowsapproximately 2,000 times each day at a rate of twice each minute whileawake and once each minute while asleep. The cumulative effect is thussubstantial, and tongue thrust does result in the problem of open bite.

This tongue thrust problem is most serious and most commonly encounteredin children involuntary actions, such as swallowing, are easily andinadvertently developed during their habit formative years. Where theproblem is recognized at an early age, treatment has primarily comprisedtherapy attempting to alter or modify the pre-existing swallowingpattern to a normal pattern. In a normal swallowing pattern, the tonguetip should be extended against the palate and not touching the teethalthough in relatively close proximity. The therapeutic procedureheretofore utilized has comprised training exercise intended to affectcontrol of the tongue movement. These training exercises are ofrepetitive short duration and have been effective in some cases.Therapeutic exercises of this nature are more effective in olderpatients but are relatively ineffective in young children when thecorrection is most imperative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objective of the tongue-thrust correctionappliance provided by this invention is to eliminate and restrict theinvoluntary and incorrect swallowing technique in younger dentalpatients but is equally useful and adaptable to older individuals. Theappliance is designed to be interfitted in fixed relationship to thepatients upper jaw and is constructed to direct the tongue duringswallowing to follow a preferred and desired pattern. In a preferredswallowing pattern, the tongue is normally caused to extend and pressagainst the palate or roofofthe mouth but not in engagement with theteeth. The palate counteracts the tongue thrust force that is normallyapplied,'and that force application then has no effect on the teeth.Accordingly. this appliance is constructed to maintain the tongue inassociation with or directed toward the roof of the mouth duringswallowing and thereby prevents extension against the teeth.

The structure of the appliance of this invention accordingly comprises abody structure that is engageable with the upper jaw and is retained inposition relative thereto. Incorporated in the body structure is ashelflike member that extends across the mouth cavity and supports thetongue at its extreme endmost portion during a swallowing operation. Thefunction of this shelf-like projection is to prevent direct forwardprojection of the tongue and results in an upward deflection of thetongue toward the roof of the mouth in the preferred pattern. Thisfunction of the appliance thus reduces the effect that is encounteredwith incorrect swallowing techniques and also is particularly helpful inaltering a patients reflexive, involuntary swallowing action to a morecorrect pattern. It enables the patient to place the tongue tip in thecorrect position for swallowing and, with the tongue thus held in thecorrect position, the patient is better able to correct his tonguethrust habit than is possible with therapeutic exercises unaided by thisappliance.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be readilyapparent from the following detailed description of an embodimentthereof and the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of atongue-thrust correction appliance embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a tip plan view on an enlarged scale of the device. FIG. 3 isa bottom plan view on an enlarged scale of the device.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the device as seen along line 4-4 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a medial vertical sectional view taken along a longitudinalvertical plane with the device inserted in a patients mouth.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic medial sectional view of an orthodontic modelillustrating an incorrect swallowing pattern.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT A tongue-thrustcorrection appliance embodying this invention is shown perspectively inFIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the appliance is seen to' comprise a moldedbody 10, having the general appearance of a mouth guard. The body itselfmay be readily fabricated and constructed utilizing well knownconventional orthodontic techniques wherein a cast is made of thepatients mouth, and the appliance or device is then reproduced in asuitable rubber-like material utilizing the cast. This fabricationtechnique results in the desired individual conformation of theappliance for proper and correct fit.

Referring specifically to the several views of the appliance, it will beseen that the illustrative embodiment of the appliance has an arcuate,generally U-shaped configuration. The molded body 10 is designed toengage the front and immediately adjacent lateral teeth with a total ofeight teeth so engaged. In addition to being configured for closeinterengagement with the teeth, the cavities 11 formed in the upperportion of the molded body may be a depth to extend into closeconformity with immediately adjacent portions of the jaw. While theupper surface of the molded body has the several cavities 11 formedtherein for engagement with the teeth, it will be seen in FIG. 3 thatthe lower surface a is substantially smooth to avoid interference withthe teeth of the lower jaw. When applied to a patients mouth, the devicewill thus be seen to be engageable only with the upper jaw with the wallsection 13 of the body at the tooth line kept at a minimum to avoidmaintaining the jaws in an uncomfortably open position. In this mannerthe device is relatively non-interfering with normal jaw movements forfunctions such as swallowing of liquids. Also, the illustrativeembodiment is shown as being U-shaped with each of the legs or arms 12extending rearwardly to engage two lateral teeth at each side of the sixfront teeth. It will be readily apparent that the length ofthe body andthe number of teeth engaged is determined by each patients particularcondition, but limitation of the legs 12 to the minimum necessary forproper retention further reduces the possibility of the appliance frominterfering with normal jaw positioning or functioning.

Formed integrally with the molded body is a shelflike web 14 that isjoined with and extends between portions of the legs or arms 12. The web14 is also joined with the forward portion of the U-shaped body. Whilethe legs or arms of the U-shaped body, as well as the forward portion,have a substantial vertical dimension to encase and engage therespective teeth and associated adjacent portions of the jaw, the web 14comprises a relatively thin structure that is substantially contiguouswith the lower surface 10a of the molded body 10 and having an uppersurface 15. With this construction, a recess is thus formed which isdefined by vertical side walls 16 of the legs 12 as well as an uppersurface of the web 14.

Utilization and functioning of this tongue-thrust correction applianceis diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 5. In that figure, an appliancel0 embodying this invention is positioned in operative relationship to apatients mouth structure. In this medial longitudinal sectional view theupper and lower teeth at the center of the mouth are designated by thenumerals 20 and 21. Additional teeth are seen with respect to the lowerjaw while the view of additional teeth in the upper jaw is substantiallyblocked by the presence of the patients tongue indicated by the numeral22. In this illustration,

the patients mouth is closed in a substantially normal position withonly the relatively thin, bottom wall sec tion 13 of the molded body 10,causing at the most, only a slight and inconsequential distortion of thenormal, closed mouth configuration. The teeth 20 and 21, as between theupper and lowerjaws, may thus be separated to a slightly greater extentthan is normally encountered at the forward portion of the mouth. Thisdoes not affect or otherwise hinder the usefulness of this orthodonticappliance. Molding of the appliance to be closely conforming to toothand jaw configuration results in retention of the appliance inrelationship to the upper jaw thereby permitting the patient to move thelower jaw without disturbance of the appliance. This permitssubstantially normal lower jaw movement to enable the patient to readilyutilize the appliance in correction of his swallowing pattern.

The tongue 22 is shown in full lines in a normal or relaxed positionwith the jaws closed. In this position, the extreme forward portion ofthe tongue is disposed above the web 14, and the teeth 21 of thelowerjaw are in contacting engagement with the lower surface 10a of thebody. The vertical elevation of the web relative to the patients mouthdoes not normally interfere with nor is it abrasive to the tongue whenso relaxed. Swallowing causes the tongue to involuntarily reflex as aconsequence of muscle movement to arch upwardly and into engagement withthe roof of the mouth indicated at 23 when the tongue tip is positionedon the upper surface 15 of the web 14. This flexed configuration of thetongue is indicated by broken lines and designated by the numeral 22a.In the case of a patient exhibiting the characteristic ofimproperswallowing technique, the tongue would not assume this broken lineposition but would attempt to project directly forward and exert adisplacing force against the upper front teeth. This improper tonguethrust is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 6.

Utilization of the tongue thrust correction appliance of this inventiongreatly assists a patient in correction of an improper swallowingpattern in that the tongue is directed upwardly against the roof of themouth by the web 14. The functioning of the web 14 is to direct thetongue in an upwardly directed arched configuration to more closelyconform to the desired swallowing pattern. Thus, the thrust forceexerted by the tongue is not directed forwardly to project the tonguebetween and against the teeth but, is transformed to a vertical forcethat is easily and readily resisted by the palate.

Utilization of this appliance will be in conjunction with a therapeuticexercise program to achieve the desired result of correcting an impropertongue-thrust habit. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the appliancewill only be inserted and maintained in the mouth for predeterminedperiods of time. For example, a patient may utilize the appliance for10-15 minute time periods, one or more such periods during the course ofa day as may be convenient. During a period of utilization, the patientconsciously places the tongue tip on the web 14 and then swallows tocause the tongue to extend and forcibly project against the palate. Thetongue will be induced to thrust against the palate since the tongue tipis supported on the shelf-like web 14 and is restrained against strictlyforward movement between the teeth. Drinking of liquids assists ininducing swallowing to increase the number of swallows that can occurduring any time period. This procedure is continued over a period oftime and results in correcting of the swallowing pattern.

It will be readily apparent that the appliance of this inventionprovides a novel means for directing or assisting in directing thetongue force in a correct manner during swallowing. The device does notinterfere with normal jaw functions and may be readily utilized. It isconveniently removable at anytime but may be maintained in the mouth forextended periods of time for most effective performance.

It will be recogniz e dthatthis appliance is most advantageouslyutilized in early stages of tooth and mouth development. The reason forsuch early utilization is that it is easier to correct the problem atthat time than to, at a subsequent date. have to initially correct toothformation or concurrently correct tooth formation while utilizing theappliance.

While the device is illustrated as comprising a continuous U-shapedmolded body l0, it will be apparent that mouth configurations as betweenseveral patients may require modification of this basic structure. Forexample. it is contemplated that the structure may comprise only theside arms or legs with the web being interconnected therebetween. Thiswould be a particularly useful configuration where other orthodontictechniques are being employed in correction of front tooth formations.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed l. A tongue-thrustcorrection appliance comprising a body of molded material having atleast two laterally spaced elements, each element therof having an uppersurface conformation of elongated, channel-form adapted to interfit withcorresponding upper jaw portions in retained relationship therewith anda lower surface adapted to be contactingly engaged by lower jaw teeth,and an integrally formed, thin web extending transversely between saidspaced elements, said web having an upper surface which is verticallydisposed relative to said spaced elements to be in vertically spacedrelationship to the roof of the mouth when the appliance is positionedtherein and a transverse rear edge which termiantes no furtherrearwardly relative to said spaced elements than a line extendingtransversely thereacross at a point coincident with the position of thesecond bicuspid teeth when the appliance is positioned in the mouthwhereby the tongue may be positioned in overlying relationship to theupper surface of said web.

2. A tongue-thrust correction appliance according to claim 1 whereinsaid web is formed with a lower surface thereof in contiguousrelationship with the lower surface of said spaced elements.

3. A tongue-thrust correction appliance according to claim 1 whereinsaid body is U-shaped including said spaced elements and a front portionintegrally connecting said spaced elements.

4. A tongue-thrust correction appliance according to claim 3 whereinsaid web is integrally formed with said front portion.

5. A tongue-thrust correction applance according to claim 3 wherein saidfront portion has a channel-form, upper surface conformation to interfitwith a corresponding upper jaw portion.

6. A tongue-thrust correction appliance according to claim 5 whereinsaid front portion has a lower surface contiguous with the lowersurfaces of said spaced ele-

1. A tongue-thrust correction appliance comprising a body of moldedmaterial having at least two laterally spaced elements, each elementtherof having an upper surface conformation of elongated, channel-formadapted to interfit with corresponding upper jaw portions in retainedrelationship therewith and a lower surface adapted to be contactinglyengaged by lower jaw teeth, and an integrally formed, thin web extendingtransversely between said spaced elements, said web having an uppersurface which is vertically disposed relative to said spaced elements tobe in vertically spaced relationship to the roof of the mouth when theappliance is positioned therein and a transverse rear edge whichtermiantes no further rearwardly relative to said spaced elements than aline extending transverSely thereacross at a point coincident with theposition of the second bicuspid teeth when the appliance is positionedin the mouth whereby the tongue may be positioned in overlyingrelationship to the upper surface of said web.
 2. a tongue-thrustcorrection appliance according to claim 1 wherein said web is formedwith a lower surface thereof in contiguous relationship with the lowersurface of said spaced elements.
 3. Aa tongue-thrust correctionappliance according to claim 1 wherein said body is U-shaped includingsaid spaced elements and a front portion integrally connecting saidspaced elements.
 4. A tongue-thrust correction appliance according toclaim 3 wherein said web is integrally formed with said front portion.5. A tongue-thrust correction applance according to claim 3 wherein saidfront portion has a channel-form, upper surface conformation to interfitwith a corresponding upper jaw portion.
 6. A tongue-thrust correctionappliance according to claim 5 wherein said front portion has a lowersurface contiguous with the lower surfaces of said spaced elements andsaid web.